Meet The Ladies...

Okay so I promised some pictures of the puppies some time ago...but they really just started looking like puppies so here they are!

From left to right we have: Charity on the bottom left, Hope on the top middle, and Faith on the bottom right...And of course Landen!

This is a close up of Charity...she is by far the smallest so far!

Here is a close up of Hope...she is MY FAVORITE!!!

Another cute one of Hope...she is the biggest, and the fattest!!

Another picture of Hope...she is such a cuddlier...I held her for hours on Christmas day...and she slept for the majority of it! If Mom and I can talk the boys into it, we'd LOVE to take Hope home...she is such a sweetie!

I'm sure I will have more pictures of the girls soon, and I will try to even it out a little more, I realize there aren't very many of Faith...and I have A TON of Hope...but I'll try to get some more later this month. Right now they are just starting to walk on their feet, they are very wobbly. All three of them are starting to rough house and play with each other...especially Charity and Hope. They still don't have teeth, but they give a lot of puppy kisses already!

Christmas pictures will be coming soon...I'll try to get them up during Landen's nap tomorrow!

God said: "Not This One Either"

Well we got the phone call, and Ben didn't get the leave replacement position. It is disappointing, but Ben and I are both feeling at peace with the answer to our prayers. Ben was told that he interviewed very well. The principal said that he really enjoyed getting to know Ben and having the opportunity to observe Ben work with kids during his observation at Lynden on Friday. Ben was told that the only thing holding him back was experience. We (and the principal) realize that it's hard to get experience without a job, but we know God has a plan for all of that.

On the bright side...Ben has a lot of sub jobs lined up for after Winter Break. We are glad to have an answer, and now feel like we can move onto the next opportunity God has in store for us. Thank you so much for all your words of encouragement and prayers. We are so thankful for such a great supportive group of friends and family.

Merry Christmas!

UPdate...

The update is...we still have no update! Sorry people...I have been getting a lot of phone calls and messages asking "have ya heard anything?" So just to help everyone stay patient...no word yet. The earliest we will hear is probably tomorrow...but it could even be Wednesday. We caught word that Ben is in the top three (that was on Friday, before today's interviews) but who knows what that had in store. Thank you so much for all your prayers and words of support...Hopefully my next post will be "good tidings of great joy...about a job!"

Quick Update...

Just a VERY quick update...today Ben found out that he is going to be observed while subbing at Lynden Middle school tomorrow. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction, and the Nooksack Middle school principal will like what he sees. Please pray that Ben will feel comfortable and shine like the great teacher he is! Until the next update...!

Is This The One?

Alright people...would you believe God has put another Art job opening in our lives?? But out of every job opening, so far, this one seems to be the MOST perfect job for our family. First of all, it's with the Nooksack Valley school district, which is the district I work in, and the district our kids (SOME DAY) would go to. Second, it's a FULL TIME POSITION! Third, it is a middle school position....which is Ben's preferred age group. (Old enough to take care of themselves, but still a little fearful of adult authority...) For now it is a leave replacement, but hey...a job is a job! Ben had his interview today after subbing at Lynden middle school...made for a busy day but a great first step! When I asked him how it went...he said he couldn't remember what they asked, or what he said, but they smiled a lot! So now we wait and see what God has in store for us...we should hear something before Christmas...I will do my best to keep you updated!

Christmas DECORATING!

Although it didn't get done on Thanksgiving night like usual...we finally got all of our Christmas decor out for the season! Traditionally Ben and I get it all out after eating way too much turkey on Thanksgiving...but this year...puppies were born and shopping had to be done and school and work...so needless to say, it was all done the first week of December this year! I thought I would post a few pictures of my favorite parts... Of course, the downstairs Christmas Tree...traditional red and green, upon Ben's request when we got married and bought our first set of ornaments. ALL snowmen...it's kind of my theme through the house...this way it's safe to be up past Christmas...although it never is...!

Our fireplace mantle. Nothin too fancy here, our two lonely stockings. Ben says I can't put too much on the mantle because after all, we have to make sure the TV remote continues to work through the holidays!

This is kind of hard to see, and the picture definitely doesn't do it justice...it's on top of our computer stand...it says "O Holy Night" and the white houses and trees are candles...NEVER to be lit of course!

This is the beloved Christmas Tree upstairs in Ben's sports room. His theme is Greenbay Packers. He's hoping Santa brings him a tree topper this year. I'm hoping Santa brings him a tree skirt...this is just a sad tree!

This is our kitchen window. The hanging Christmas balls are new this year...Ben's not a huge fan...but I really like it! And yes...that is a stick...specifically picked out for this purpose! The trees are left over from our wedding, they were great centerpieces...and now they are perfect by my window...

My new snowman cookie jar from At Home America! Ben wants to know why it's empty! Maybe over Winter Break we can work on filling that bad boy up...but until then, it's purely for decoration!

And, our bedroom. Only mild decorating in here...I love putting our nativity scene in here because it matches so well! Our walls look very pink in this picture, but in real life they are very RED! (just wanted to clear that up!)

A few Christmasy touches on the shadow box next to the bed...

Last but not least the bathroom. I know what your thinking..."who puts pictures of their bathroom on a blog?" But remember this is so you can see the Christmas decorations! Plus this room, sadly, is my favorite! I love the glass piece...and for Christmas it is out with the sand and starfish and in with the snow and Christmas balls! Again...red, green, and snowmen!

Landen walked into our bathroom last week and said "Aww...that's pretty..." then he touched these Christmas balls and said "That's awesome!"

For those of you who don't know, and might think I'm a lil crazy for putting up window frames in the bathroom...these are the window frames from the old garage that used to stand where our house is before we tore it down to build the house. So we took down the starfish and put up the Christmas wreaths! (Thanks for letting me barrow your wreaths mom!)

Can you believe we are down to 16 days until Christmas?? Only 16 more days to enjoy this holiday season...then it's just going to be cold, snowy January! Enjoy the season...Merry Christmas!

An Evening With the Little Man...

Okay...I have to admit...I've had pictures to post on the blog for weeks!! So although it's late I am still putting them up. Ben and I got to have Landen when Kate and Mom were helping Molly with the nursery. We did a variety of activities like coloring Curious George pictures, playing online at pbskids.org (working on colors, patterns, shapes), learning how to write his name etc. But Landen's FAVORITE out of all the educational things I tried....was watching Curious George movies on the computer. That's right...he likes to "...watch George on the puter!" We can thank his mommy for that, at home he convinces her to make him a fort around the computer stand while he watches George. I broke down and let him watch it on the computer, but we didn't make the fort this time...
As you can see...he is already assuming that "man position" while watching TV!

He soon decided he needed to cozy up a little...so, Auntie Abbie had to watch George too, so he could have someone to lean! Not that I'm complaining....this is the child that RARELY cuddles...so I was loving it!

He eventually got sleepy....and most of the evening this was my view while watching Curious George! Cutest lil blond head I've ever seen!

We had a great night with the little monster...I mean man...such a sweetie! Being an auntie is the best job ever!

We're Back!

Okay people I realize how long it's been! I have been very neglectful of our blog...but I am going to try to do better this month. Well, for a quick update on life...let's see...this month I have started selling Scentsy! It is such a great product, and I am completely addicted, so selling the product is an awesome way to share my passion for the product with friends and family, and it also helps feed my addiction. I am having my first Open House on Saturday 1 pm - 5 pm at our house (not tomorrow, but a week from tomorrow) so come check out all of our warmers and scents! You can check out my Scentsy website at www.scentsy.com/abbieball

We had a great Thanksgiving and got to spend a lot of time with great friends and family. Last night Mom and I got to watch my grandma's yorkie have four puppies! It was AWESOME! She ended up having three girls and a boy, unfortunately...the little boy didn't make it, but the girls are doing great! Mom and I are still trying to convince the boys that there needs to be ONE MORE puppy on the property. We'll see what the outcome will be. I will get some pictures of the girls on the blog soon...right now they aren't the cutest things...but they will be getting cuter by the day! Right now they are about 4 oz. so when they get closer to a pound they will look more like puppies.

Ben was also blessed with a job this month painting a mural for Gabe and Molly's new baby. It turned out absolutely amazing. I've been waiting to post pictures of it to make sure Molly got to show it off first...I think it's safe now though...so check it out....

I know...pretty beautiful right? Ben did this job in 10 hours...not bad for a day's work!

We are going to get our Christmas decorations up this week...and be ready for the Scentsy Open House on Saturday! Hope to see you there!!

Happy Birthday Ben!

This week we celebrated Ben's 28th birthday! We had ourselves a lovely date night to celebrate. We started our day a lot like every other day...except...Ben had to open his present from me at 6:45 am because it's harder for me to wait than him. We both had to (got to) work that day so we spent our Friday with amazing kids...molding their minds...for the better we hope! When we got home from work we spent a few minutes relaxing before we got ready for our date night! (That's right people we've been married for almost four years and we still get ready to impress each other!) We ate dinner together at Everson's finest...oh yeah...Herb Niemann's! For those of you out of towners...it is the most AMAZING schnitzel house! Dinner was great! Then we made the not so long drive home and had ice cream cake from DQ with Mom, Dad, Katie, and Landen. I know what your thinking...fancy dessert...but it's one of Ben's favorites! Landen was hilarious...he called it Ben's "happy cake!" We even put candles on it...but not 28...it's was an ice cream cake...we didn't want it to melt! Landen just kept asking us "What you doing?" while we lit each candle! We had a great night and sadly have zero pictures to help us remember it! (Wife forgot the camera!) But I thought I would still post a quick blurb about our night...love you Ben...hope you had a great birthday!

Trick-or-Treat!!!

Okay so Halloween was kind of a bust this year...Ben and I made plans to have dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Hanowell for Grandpa's birthday (not a bust...a ton of fun!) so because we were gone for the first part of the evening...we missed ALL of the trick-or-treaters!! Well ALL except ONE!!! That's right...the cutest trick-or-treater we could ask for! However, Ben and I will not be the ones contributing to those cavities...we got Landen a Curious George Halloween book instead! I saw this book at the book fair at school this week and HAD to get it for my favorite nephew!

Before he even got through the front door the hood to his monkey costume was off and he was charging straight into the house and went directly to the puppies who were locked up in our room with the baby gate.

Cutest monkey butt I've ever seen...he kept telling us to "let them get out!" Eventually his advocacy for the puppies worked and the puppies got to come out! (we weren't getting any trick-or-treaters anyways!)

Landen finally gave me a smile with the monkey hood on...but only if him and Mommy could be "real monkeys" on the floor! Thanks buddy...I know Grandma will be thankful for this picture she is missing you this weekend while she is gone!

Landen quickly checked out his Curious George Halloween book...until he noticed the giant bowl of candy from Costco (that's right people we bought a Costco size bag of candy!!! and no trick-or-treaters)

Look at this genius two year old...holding the book the right way, turning pages the right way...

and picking candy out...okay so maybe we are going to contribute to the cavities a little bit...but he only picked two Twix bars...and they were the bite size ones!

Then when he was running around like a crazy monkey...he tripped and fell...don't worry though, there were no tears...but he did drop one of his Twix bars and it slid under the couch...it was pretty funny!

After his minor fall he took off the top half of his monkey costume and went upstairs to play with Uncle Ben...okay so even though we still have a HUGE bowl of candy left...it was still a great night! Thanks for bringing him by Darren and Kate! Cutest monkey we've ever seen!

P-A-R-T-Y!!!

As promised, here are the final pictures from Landen's room. Landen loves it, his only complaint to Uncle Ben is that the doors don't open. He regularly asks for "doors...open..." other than that he thinks its a "cool barn!" The next thing to finish is his big boy bed that grandpa is building...Uncle Ben drew up the plans for it on Saturday and the lumber has been purchased...next will be building! You can bet that there will be pictures of Ben and Dad figuring that one out together!
After we took these pictures we thought we should have had Landen standing in front so you could see the size proportion...it's HUGE...pretty much goes from baseboard to ceiling...no wonder Landen wants the doors open, it's just his size.

Saturday was Landen's birthday party at the new house...it was a Curious George party because that is his favorite show! So Katie, being the good mommy that she is, found a great party supply place online and bought George everything for his party! Except for his party shirt...that was all Auntie Abbie! :) He had a morning party so everything was breakfasty...even his cake. He has a giant maple bar donut cake...with Curious George on it! In this picture we were all singing Happy Birthday...and he LOVED it...!

And like any two year old he had to test the cake before serving it to his guests...plus there was a little Curious George on the cake that was swinging between two trees...so naturally he had to play with that!

With a lick of the finger he decides it's pretty good and he'd like to have his own! And because his Mommy is quick she got the cake out of reach before the licked finger got back into the cake!

Landen decided that licking the finger took more time than just licking the cake...so in order to save time he just licked the cake...he was a big fan of the maple frosting!

Once everyone finished breakfast we loaded all the presents into the living room for opening...Landen picked up this one and carried it around to all his birthday guests letting them know that they were all "my presents!"

Landen and Daddy sat in his chair for a quick birthday picture before opening all those presents!

It didn't take long for Landen to figure out the opening strategies...rip 'em open as fast as possible...although after opening each present he wanted to open it and play with it. After each present he would ask his Mommy..."play with this one?" To avoid the confussion we thought it would be a good idea to casually move the opened presents to the family room so they were out of sight...well it didn't take long for Landen to catch on and he let Auntie Megan know "NO...my tractor!"

Landen loved the present from Uncle Ben and Auntie Abbie...it was a monkey outfit for Halloween...somewhat resembling Curious George...so he did his best to put it on right away...except he put the pants over his head and started walking around...he is turning into such a ham!

With a little help from Mommy he got to put the hood on for a minute before opening the next present!

When all the presents were finally opened he got to play!!! So he opened up his Fisher Price "legos" to "build somethin." He's starting to get the hang of this picture taking thing...he actually said "CHEESE!"

And naturally the big boys are just as into the new toys as Landen...good thing he's a good sharer! (well he's learning to be at least!)

It was a great birthday party...and he is now stocked up on new toys...which is good with all this rainy weather! We are so blessed to live so close to our favorite nephew...he is AMAZING!! Thanks Kate and Darren for sharing these special moments with us!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like FALL

As Ben and I drove home from Sunday dinner at Grandma's today we couldn't help but notice the beauty that lined our driveway. We planted these trees (with mom and dad) a few years ago and they are amazing in the Fall. As we looked around...we noticed how many beautiful pleasures God has put before our very eyes, so I thought I would share some of them with you all...Aunt Kay I hope you check out the blog this week, I know you will appreciate these leaves!

And naturally not EVERYTHING is orange...we also have some of my favorite Fall plants by the pond...
These purple pansies have been awesome this season I hope they stick around for awhile!
And it just wouldn't feel like Fall if we didn't have at least a few cabbages...
We hope that everyone is enjoying the season as much as we are...we are surrounded by so much beauty, complements of our Lord and Savior!

Fun Busy Weekend With Family

What a great weekend...busy but great! On Friday Katie and Darren finally got to move into their new house...so like families do...we all loaded and packed...then unload and unpack! So while everyone was busy working I was taking pictures! AND playing with Landen of course! Today most of the unpacking was done so Katie, mom and I were hanging pictures and turning the new house into the new home...and since we had a screw driver out...Landen needed a screw driver. Well, he was getting an entire tool set for his birthday (which is tomorrow) but he "needed it" now. So he got an early birthday present...

And he found his very own black and decker power screw driver!

And it is always important to remeber safety first!

And once he had all his tools...he HAD to help grandpa fix the drawer in the kitchen...so while grandpa tried to figure it out Landen held the black and decker "ashlight" to see...

Eventually...he lost interest and decided that playing in the drawer would be way more fun...so while grandpa fixed the drawer Landen played inside the drawer.

Meanwhile...Ben spent all of Friday night and most of this afternoon transforming what was once a very pink little girl's room into Landen's new bedroom. This time around Landen has requested a barn for his new room..."and sheeps and cows too!" It's not finished yet, but Landen is already very pleased with the progress...he walks into his room and says "oh...nice barn...sanks" but it should be completed before his big birthday party on Saturday.

And when Uncle Ben finally called it quits for the evening...he and Landen played in the "new livin room" at the "new house"...

And so now...at 10:30 on a Saturday night...we are sleepy...and ready for a lazy Sunday. More pictures will come soon to show the progress on Landen's new room...it's turning out great so far...I have one talented husband!